USA´s Iberia Insiders since 1998

Frequently Asked Questions & Terms and Conditions

“Our Best of Spain 10 day tour was EXCEPTIONAL… personalized to our interest + no planning stress nor worry… We enjoyed Spain 100%… we could Not have done it on our own”

– John and Caroline Delaney
Chicago, IL

1. How long has Magical Spain been in business and who owns the company?

Magical Spain is American owned and operated since 1998, by Dan O’Beirne and Ariel Harris. Bilingual American foodie Dan O’Beirne kicked things off while working as a teacher in Madrid in 1998. American Ariel Harris, came on board post S11 as a partner. His sister Rachel Harris joined the company next. To control quality + give more personalized VIP service, we accept just 5 trips per week in Spain. Expect access to insider experiences, people and places on a chauffeured fun upscale adventure, tailor made to YOUR unique interest, with the help of our network of 150+ insider contacts in Iberia.

2. Why should I trust Magical Spain with my hard-earned vacation time and money?

Great question for any company. Even though our American & Spanish teams have worked over 15+ years in Iberia, we still suggest you ask to see customer reviews, ideally ask for customer reviews by video as you can see if it looks real and not some B level actor.

The truth is, our exclusive Spain luxury adventures are not for everybody. But if you are a discerning world traveler, and desire a luxury cultural, active or foodie vacation to remember, we’d love to help. Also if you are a BUSY person, who desires to go beyond the travel books and beyond the online guides, we will customize our unforgettable private adventures. with your favorite people sans stress.

If you can appreciate that customized quality and bilingual services cost more than mass-market mediocrity, then let’s talk. If it’s a good fit …..and if we have availability, we’d be delighted to help you. Here are a few of our unique curated experiences that make our unique luxury Iberia adventures memorable + successful:

“Limited Edition Trips” = Quality not Quantity…. Since manaña mentality, fiesta and siestas have made it into the 21st century and lack of English can all be frustrating, we decided to scale back and limit quantity to improve the quality. That’s why with our limit of 5 trips per week we can offer the best service in the business hands down and why our trips are worth more to our guest.

Give Back = More Authenticity & Connection: In this age of globalization even the tourist trap gift shops sell Chinese-made “European souvenirs” in Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, and Paris. Then there are the chain restaurants that are less than memorable. So we seek out authenticity and give back to the locals by supporting top local businesses, restaurants, cafes, shops, artist, artisans (as long as their quality is high). Many guests tell us they feel a deeper connection with this unique land and it allows for a more meaningful insight into the local people and their lives. This contrasts with others who accept a kickback from tourist traps in exchange for steering their customers there.

3. Do you have guest references for your trips?

Absolutely!… We have helped many demanding customers including Jerry Seinfeld, Hollywood writer Mark Rosenthal, US wine importer Gary Parker and millionaire execs from NYC to Chicago to the Bay Area. Also, we were consulted for the Michelle Obama Spain family trip. But most of our customers are simply busy, successful people who desire and deserve MORE than Mass Market…. they deserve a private journey of discovery in Spain to remember for decades.

We are very careful with privacy and personal information. But for serious queries, we do have permission from some past customers to talk or email with them as prospective customers.

Media?…we have not done much P.R. but have appeared and collaborated with the media including USA Today, Travel Channel, Rick Steve’s Spain Guide Book, MTV, Conde Nast Traveler, PBS radio, Ehow.com, Penguin Books’ Spain Rough Guide. See also us also on Youtube, Twitter and Facebook.

4. What type of people typically utilize your luxury private tours ?

Our private tours in Spain are high end, private adventures that are designed so our guest experience more in less time with their favorite people, their way. Typically there is a blend of the best cultural fun, gourmet food, history, art, architecture, natural beauty and . Our trips are personalized for people of all ages to their your style. Past clients include:

Groups of friends or family, affinity groups like wine clubs, companies, people celebrating special occasions or anniversaries.

First time travelers to Europe, as well as experienced travelers

Foodies, wine aficionados or folks who enjoy cultural fun or history

Our clients are 80% from the USA and Canada. The other 20% hail from Australia, India, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and more.

5. Can your private Spain adventures be customized?

Our private tours are 100% custom-designed to fit your style and ultimate travel dreams. This benefits discerning travelers as they get access to exclusive Magical Spain insider experiences. Our trips are typically run between February and November.

6. Why do you only accept 5 private groups per week?

Since manaña mentality, fiesta and siestas have made it into the 21st century and lack of English can all be frustrating, we decided to scale back and limit quantity to ensure the quality of our adventures. That’s why with our limit of 5 trips per week we can offer the best service in the business hands down and why our trips are worth more to our guest. We love our work but in order to stay fresh and have time to do R & D it is important for us to travel ourselves around Spain, so we do some “mobile officing” with iPads, smartphones and Mac books.

8. How do you select hotels for your private trips?

We look for quality, comfort, location, and service for our discerning, upscale customers…. Based on your taste in hotels, we can offer modern urban luxury hotels or unique historic character hotels that include medieval castle or monastery options. Spain offers world-class hotels with 5 stars, ultra luxury 5-star GL, and deluxe 4-star properties. Rooms options include superior, junior suite, suite, and presidential suites. Other options include Spanish villas or even medieval castles!

9. What time of year is best?

The truth is travelers visit sunny temperate areas of Spain year round….Spring, Early Summer, and Fall are perhaps the most popular most years but with the cruise ship expansion, even July and August are now busy for us.

For spring flowers, consider mid-March, April, May. June to September is quite popular as is October. For wine lovers, the harvest time is September and October (earlier down south). If avoiding the seasonal European crowds is your thing then we suggest February and March, or October & November. For beach weather and crowds, the best is summer. While the weather has been hard to predict there is a bit more chance of rain in the fall and winter.

10. How do I book a tour with you?

See this step by step booking & payment explanation here: Start with the Contact Us button to fill out the quick and easy travel planning form. You’ll then get an email or phone call from us so we can get to know each other and better understand your needs. You can choose our ready-to-book trips, like our Best of Spain, Northern Spain or Andalucia Adventure as is or….have us put our team to work to customize a private Spain trip. As expert time is money, we charge a modest retainer fee for custom travel development. Note: this retainer is later 100% deducted from your trip cost with us.

Once you are happy with your custom adventure plan as noted in our detailed itinerary PDF, you can confirm your trip with the first payment of 2 payments, as noted in the PDF. We then proceed with the final booking of suppliers. As this is subject to availability, the sooner a trip is confirmed the better the availability. The separate final payment is due 40 days before your arrival. Please advise any questions. Thanks – See this step by step booking & payment explanation here:

11. How far in advance do I need to reserve my private vacation trip?

The sooner the better as we accept just 5 private trips per week and work on a “First-Reserve, First Serve” basis.

Many weeks sell out. We do this to provide more personalized customer care for your hard earned vacation. So the earlier you can reserve your private luxury Spain tour or Portugal luxury custom trip, the greater the number of available dates. Many companies do the opposite, they “Sell First and Worry Later”. Our style of travel is much too personalized for that.

12. How much and when are the payments made?

To confirm your trip reservation with Magical Spain (after we have worked with you to custom-design the perfect Spain itinerary) and once you are happy with your custom adventure plan as noted in our detailed itinerary PDF, you can confirm your private Spain or Portugal luxury trip with the first payment of 2 payments, as noted in the PDF itinerary proposal that you will get from us.

We then proceed with the final booking of suppliers. As this is subject to availability, the sooner a trip is confirmed the better the availability. The separate final payment is due 40 days before your arrival. Please advise any questions. Thanks – See this step by step booking & payment explanation here:

If start date is less than 40 days away, payment is due in full.

13. How much do your luxury adventures of a lifetime cost?.... I love that name 🙂

Our style of very personalized cultural adventures entails more expenses and more preparation than mass-market travel but our past customers say the investment is worth it. It’s like the difference between Ivy League or state Junior College. So while the price will vary based on your needs and the number of people on your private chauffeured private VIP adventure of a lifetime, our starting rates with 4 travelers and 4-star hotels (standard rooms) is from 550+ euros per person per day. Of course, this will be higher on ultra-luxury versions of our trips with costly premium experiences like our Spain VIP Helicopter Adventure with helicopter touring, elite instructors, yachts, villas, private jets, exclusive venues, premium cars, hotels & suites, drivers, and other experiences here => https://magicalspain.com/insider-experiences/

14. Your trips seem much more expensive than many other mass market tours & companies.

Our “limited edition” private cultural adventures have a lot of fixed-cost divided among a small private group that is not for everybody….. We accept just 5 groups per week as we believe that life is too short to risk a mediocre vacation. If that resonates with you and you do not want to settle for a DIY trip then we should talk about vacation investment opportunities.

If we have availability, we’d be delighted to design the custom adventure of a lifetime for you and your favorite people. If cost is the main issue then you are best off going it alone but realizing that you might waste a lot of time, miss out on our exclusive experiences and deal with language and cultural hassles.

15. What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept major credit cards: Visa, American Express, MasterCard or Bank Transfers.

16. Should someone in our party speak Spanish in Spain?

Spaniards are very friendly BUT, unlike most of Europe, English is NOT widely spoken nor understood especially outside of the luxury hotels and more so outside of Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona. If you travel on your own, you might expect to have some frustrating, time-wasting experiences due to communication and cultural miscommunication. Of course, this is one problem you will not have with our hand-picked guides and our daily support while touring with us in Spain.

17. What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations and Refunds

Since tour 1 in summer of 1998, Magical Spain has NEVER canceled a trip.

But if we were to cancel a trip, our customers are protected as we will refund 100% of all payments made.

If the customer cancels a trip reservation, most companies offer a quite draconian policy toward customers.

We prefer to appreciate and respect our customers. That is why we have a more pro-consumer policy as that is how we’d like to be treated.

So for customer cancellations, our policy is to refund payments received, less the following fee that varies as one get closer to trip departure dates. We also highly suggest each customer take our trip travel cancellation insurance directly for your protection.

Days Prior to Trip Trip Cancellation Fee / Person Below:

90+ days 997€ + tax

30- 21 days 75% of trip price

20 – 13 days 85% of trip price

12 – 0 days 95% of trip price

If you must cancel a trip, we ask you to notify us by your regular email ASAP + send a photo of a signed cancellation request note with your full trip dates, full name, address + phone number. This is important to verify your identity and prevent problems

To be fair, please note that based on a confirmed reservation for a 10 day private Spain luxury tour, we often enter into some 25+ agreements on behalf of the customer’s private Spain trip. This might include, top guides, drivers, hotels, restaurants, cooking classes, gourmet food tastings, cultural visits, hiking, horseback, wine or tapas tasting or other options on for example our Best of Spain tour.

These professionals and hotels often TURN AWAY other business based on committing to a confirmed trip with us.

Again our policy is industry standard and cancellations very rarely happen. For any important vacation anywhere, we highly suggest taking out trip cancellation insurance. If for ANY reason someone is forced to cancel your trip with us, our policy is very clear and simple:

Kindly note, as per travel industry norms, there is no refund for unused services, there is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early or opting out of planned experiences. Based on the nature of cultural adventure travel and the many moving parts, we reserve the right to modify the cooking classes, drivers, hotels, restaurants, wine estates detailed in the itinerary, due to rare changes beyond our control.

Changes on our side are very rare and not typical but again in the event of any changes, we will of course substitute with something of equal or greater value. So again for any important vacation anywhere, we highly suggest getting trip cancellation insurance.

In the rare event that we were to cancel a tour, you, the customer, get a full, fast & complete refund of all payments made to us.

18. What travel documents do I need?

Just valid passport for citizens of the USA or Canada with at least 6 months before expiration is ideal. For other cases please consult with us. Also, we suggest having copies of your passport in a separate location from the original. An additional photo ID is helpful for credit card purchases so that you can leave your passport in your room safe if desired.

19. What does the tour cost include and not include?

On all our scheduled tours, the price typically covers:

Peace of Mind of our Expert Planning & Bookings with Top Professionals

International air flights, horse, and buggy, river cruise, windsurfing or hot air balloon rides.

Personal expenses on your trip

any internet, phone or travel insurance cost

Single supplement (if you choose that option)

Drinks, tasting’s or meals that are not listed

Any telephone charges & laundry costs

Insurance or medical expenses or hard liquor and minibar charges

Optional experiences, Spa services or P.A’s

20. What is the activity level of your tours?

We believe it’s your tour so we adapt to your desire for more or less physical activity We can include more motorized transport or more walking. That said, a basic level of health, energy, and ability to walk at your pace on some cobble-stone and some inclined terrain is ideal. Private walking tours are mostly over level ground but include some uneven or cobblestone terrain. The pace is up to you and includes time for the guides to describe what you are seeing. Please consult if you have any questions.

21. What do I need to pack for this adventure?

The Spanish climate varies with more rain in the greener Atlantic-influenced north and less in the Mediterranean south and east. Iberia is crisscrossed by mountain ranges so the temperature varies with altitude. So in general weather is somewhat similar to California. Urban locals often dress up a bit for even simple dinners out but your style is your call.

A light rain-proof jacket or sweater in spring and fall

Comfortable walking shoes (suitable for cobblestone streets)

Casual & some smart casual for evening

Personal medication

Camera, film and batteries

1 or 2 ATM card (+ PIN codes)

Credit cards

Electrical adaptor

Passport & copy

For 97% of restaurants, jackets are optional. Pants for women are fine.

Be sure to check your flight’s baggage requirements/allotments.

Be sure to include an adapter for your device chargers.

22. What about crime and safety?

European Spain is one of the LEAST violent counties (much lower than our USA) in the world but, like Italy and France, one should take care with public transportation as pickpockets are alive and well. Our private chauffeured transfers resolve this worry.

Crime rates and gun use remains LOWER than in the USA.

Money belts provide convenience and safekeeping of money, etc.

Be savvy in Italy, Spain and France – avoid pickpockets by avoid major crowds.

Carry moderate amounts of cash each day

Use the hotel safe for valuables, air tickets & passport (some experienced travelers say they relax & enjoy travel more with valuables at home.)

23. What money is needed, and what about tipping?

The currency for Europe including Spain is the Euro.

Exchange rates may be more favorable when charging purchases.

Cashing travelers’ checks require time in line and a passport.

On escorted private or group trips, it is customary to tip the tour director at the end of the trip: 10 – 20 euro per day per person is typical. The amount, of course, remains entirely up to you. Our guides really appreciate this and a personal message on Facebook is always nice.

TIPs are not such a big deal in Europe. So tips for restaurants, drivers and baggage handling is your call. If you are happy, a modest tip is max 5% at restaurants. Please FORGET the 15-20% USA style tips as the pros above do get a living wage, unlike US servers in some areas.

24. What travel insurance do I need?

Although it is rarely needed, we highly suggest that our customers obtain travel and cancellation insurance before your arrival for peace of mind. This can save you a lot of money in case of a family emergency pops up a few weeks or days before your trip, when we have already paid or committed to pay for dozens of services and lodgings. We have heard great things about America’s leader for travel insurance, Travel Guard. Over the years since 1998 many of our customers have used them. so that is our suggestion.

We suggest each person should decide themselves which type of coverage is best for them. While insurance is rarely needed here you and your group will enjoy your trip more with this peace of mind.

25. Do you handle international flights?

No, the internet is GREAT for that. We focus on Spain travel & add more value with our insider expertise and contacts on the ground in Spain. International flights is an area where the internet excels so that is our best suggestion. We are happy to suggest the top airports which are in Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Malaga, Seville and Valencia.

Remember where ever you arrive in Spain, our driver will be waiting with a luxury car, van or bus to whisk you away to your select hotel. You’ll avoid the long lines of bleary-eyed folks awaiting a taxi and will be whisked away to your luxury hotel.

26. How do you get an accurate and current conversion of Dollars to Euros?

Like many international companies, we use the www.XE.com service for our official exchange rates because the rate used is a mean of the sell and the buy rate which is fair for both sides.

Imagine you are hungry for a unique meal experience, you could take cooking classes, buy cookbooks and experiment in the kitchen burning a few things until you get it right or you could go to a restaurant and pay a professional to create a unique meal experience without any hassles. We have created unique Spain travel experiences for 12+ years so our 7000+ customers concentrate enjoying their vacation without wasting valuable time or energy with maps, planning, tourist traps, driving/getting lost, language problems, siesta, fiestas or the eternal “manaña mentality”.

28. Our Alumni, Church, Rehab Group or Wine Club might want to do a tour of Spain. Can you help?

Absolutely! We tailor visits to Spain based on your interests. Please contact us with specific interests.

29. We are serious about food. What would you recommend?

Yes, we are delighted to work with all types of affinity groups. Contact us for details.
It´s your call, we offer access to numerous fun food and wine experiences for your private group:

30. Our group of 8 is considering joining a guided group trip that is open to the public with another experienced company. Can you offer us something similar or better?

Depends on availability as we only accept 5 trips per week and out trips are not as cheap as big inflexible group trips. That said, we can source pretty much any kind of upscale trip you want in Spain (as long as it´s legal) for your group from 4 to 400 people. As far as joining a group that might work out for you and you might pay less, but it has certain disadvantages. Our experience is that awkward moments can happen with a private group inside a group, which is a great reason to just do a private trip. Then your reunion trip can be really tailored to your taste and passions. In the past when we offered group trips and had groups join in, we saw a number of trips with “less than optimal group dynamics”. Quality, Privacy and personalized services just cost more. Let us know if we can help.

31. What is the climate like in Spain?

The southern and coastal of Spain is largely a Mediterranean climate and similar to California. Northern Spain has more Atlantic influence and is cooler. Of course, there are variations between the beaches and the many elevated areas and mountains ranges that provide regional diversity in Iberia. Contact us for more details.

32. What type of hotels do you normally use?

Our customers can choose from deluxe historic properties (medieval castles and monasteries) or modern 4 and 5-star luxury hotels typically near the historic districts in cities. This benefits our customers making it easy to walk and explore on foot with our guided tours and/or exploring during free time. This contrast with some “corporate” tour companies that often use bland hotels well out of the historic areas. We pride ourselves on selecting memorable hotels, Paradores, and inns that reflect the local history and culture without forgetting about comfort and service.

33. I have never been to Spain. How should I choose my destination?

It really depends on what you want to experience…. your interest, passions and goals. Peruse our website for ideas and then fill out our contact travel planning form. We can aid you in finding areas that interest you and develop a custom trip that will maximize your trip so you experience more in less time and make your visit to Spain one you will never forget.

BONUS QUESTION: How much is each hour of your vacation really worth?

If you enjoy math you might want to consider this scenario when you do a D.I.Y vacation in countries where things do not always go like clockwork and where good English is not always a given. So how many hours did you and your group of friends or family work last year to earn your vacation time?

Next consider the cost of a typical overseas vacation (vacation time, air, hotels, transport, meals etc.) by waking hours your group will spend on vacation time. Then subtract the time lost doing research & planning. Then also subtract the time lost on your vacation with language problems, Mañana service mentalities, logistics problems, transport stress, long lines, getting lost driving on vacation, lack of parking plus more parking tickets with a bad economy, ect..

How much time or energy did you waste on logistics and worry? How much did that affect the authenticity and satisfaction with your experience on your European vacation? After a go-go European road trip did you ever feel like you needed a vacation as you were often stressed? We have certainly felt that way many times which is why we offer the Magical Spain full-service private adventures. For those smart math brains that come up with an answer, let us know on Facebook. We will enter your name in a drawing for a case of good wine for your group to enjoy on your Spain trip with us.
Experience More Spain in Less Time Your Way

How many hours, day or years did you work for your hard-earned vacation time?…. Now consider how much time can be wasted when you plan and then do a D.I.Y vacation in a Mediterranean country, wherelife is good BUT things do not always go like clockwork +…… where good English and good service is NOT so common.

Consider the cost of a typical overseas vacation (vacation time, air, hotels, transport, meals ect.) by waking hours your group will spend on vacation time. Then subtract the time lost doing research & planning. Then also subtract the time lost on your vacation with language problems, Mañana service mentalities, logistics problems, transport stress, long lines, getting lost driving on vacation, lack of parking plus lots more parking tickets with bad economy, ect..

How much time or energy did you waste on logistics and worry? How much did that affect the authenticity and satisfaction with your experience on your European vacation? After a go-go European road trip did you ever feel like you needed a vacation as you were often stressed? We have been certainly felt that way many times which is why we offer the Magical Spain full service private adventures.